Check entrance for check control apparatus



Oct. 1l, 1932. A. A. KNEE 1,882,504

CHECK ENTRANCE FCR CHECK CONTROL APPARATUS Fil'ed July 27. 1929 2 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 11, 1932. A. A. KNEE CHECK ENTRANCE FOR CHECK CONTROL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July 27, 1929 Patented Oct. 11, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE AARON A. KNEE, 0F CHAR-Lorranonrn CAROLINA, AssIGNonVBY DIRECT AND ivinsnn ASSIGNMENTS, TO VANAK CORPORATION, OF CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, A-COR.-

PORATION 0F NORTH CAROLINA CHECK ENTRANC FOR CHECK CONTi-OL APPARATS Application led .Tu1`y` 27,

This invention relates to a coin entrance for check controlled apparatus vand broadly is intended to provide means to lreepthe slot closed at all times to prevent any foreign objects from being placed into the slot, said slot being adapted to be opened only by the insertion of a check of proper size and dimension therein. K

An object of my invention is to provide a coin slot for check controlled apparatus Which slot is normally closed at all times, and which is adapted to be opened only by the insertion of a proper check or coin into the slot which will cause the slot to open and allow the check or coin to drop into the check controlled apparatus. y

Another object of my invention is to provide a normally closed slot or entrance for a check controlled apparatus, Which Will prevent any object from being placed into the slot, or the check controlled apparatus eX- cept the proper check or coin `for which the machine is built.

it has heretofore been the experience of many operators of checlr controlled apparatus, that the apparatus which is operated and which is controlled by the check or coin have een rendered inoperative, and in many instances seriously damaged by the insertion of foreign objects such as paper, matches, nails and other objects which malicious persons .vill force into the slot and in many instances the slot in check controlled machines have been entirely closed by ivedging foreign objects 'ther-ein, and it is an object of my invention to provide a slot which is normally closed to prevent insertion therein of any objects whatever While the same is normally closed, and which mechanism is adapted to be opened only by placingtherein the proper check or coin which is adapted tooperate the machine, and the passage of said check 0r coin through my mechanism is adapted to automatically close the slot and lock the same in position so that it Will remain closed until another proper checlrl or coin is placed into the slot.

Another object of my invention is to provide a coin or check entrance for checkV controlled apparatus, Which entrance is normal- 192.9. serial No. 331,442.

for Which the machine is adapted and built to be operated by, .and whichV entrance isY adapted tobe automatically closed by the passage of the coin from the entrance into the check controlled";apparatus.

VAnother object ot my inventon is to provide a coin entrance for check controlled apr paratus, .Which is so constructed'as to prevent insertion therein of any object Which Will injure or render inoperative the check controlled apparatus associated therewith.

Another object of my invention is to'pro-v vide a coin entrance which is adapted to be opened only by theinserti'on'therein of a genuine coin' or check Which isadapted to operate the machine, and associated vvith. my coin entrance I provide detlecting means Which are adapted to separate,v the checks or coins lWhich might force the entranceopen and yet be of inferior vquality or spurious, and in which instance if the coin or check is too light it will be deflected in one direction, and if up to a givenV Weight it Vvvill be de- 'lected in another ldirection tocause the' check or coin to enter the check controlled apparatus. v l Y Some of the obj ects ofvmy invention having been stated other objects will appear as the description" proceeds When taken in connection with the accompanying drawings', in Which-` Figure 1 is a front elevation of my `coin entrance mechanism With the front cover plate of the casing removed; Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional vievv taken along the line 2"*2 in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the cylindrical hollow member in' Whichthe'bell crank levers are ,mounted`;-

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 1 -f4 in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a view of the opposite end of the cylindrical member as shown in Figure 3; l

Figure 6 is an edge view of the member having the plunge'rs therein;

Figure 7 is an edge View of the members V Figure 10 is a view of the tri ger mech-'i anism of my device;

Figure 11 is a bottom plan view of the shell in which my mechanism is mounted.

Before proceeding to designate the various marks of my mechanism bv the reference characters I desire to state that Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 might be termined. collectively as one figure showing an exploded view of the parts contained within the shell member of my device.

Referring more specifically to the drawings the numeralv 10 indicates a casing for a check controlled apparatus which may be a vendingvmachine or any other mechanism which is controlled by a check being deposited therein. My invention proper is adapted to be mounted in close proximity to the casing 10, and in the drawings l have shown it mounted on top of the casing, and my invention comprises the lside members 11 and 12 with the end members 13 and 14 with the bottom member 15, and the top or cover portion. 16. This cover portion 16has a semi-circular cut away portion therein, in which the cylindrical shell member 17 is adapted to be mounted, and in this cylindrical shell member 17 is contained my mechanism for closing the slot, said slot being designated by the reference character 18, which is in the enclosed end of the shell member 17. This shell member 17 is adapted to be secured in the semi-circular cut-away portion, which is cut out of the side walls 11 and 12 and the top member 16. This casing formed bythe member 11, 12, 13, 14, and 16Vhas the partitions 19 and 2O therein which are adapted to form the side walls of the twoslots, which are adapted to deflect the coin into the check controlled apparatus. Mounted in the casing composed of the members 11 to 16 is the vertically disposed partition 22 which forms a slot, by providing a space 23 between the member 12 and the member 22, and in this passageway 23 there is provided the pivot pin 24, on which is pivot-ally mounted the coin deiecting means 25 which has the Yweight member 26v mounted on the opposite press the member 25 downwardly to the dotted line position, and cause the check to Jfall into slot 27 from whence will be directed to the mechanism for operating a'check controlled apparatus. T the coin or check G is of a lighter weight than a genuine check or coin it will fail to depress the member 25 and will'be deflected into the channel 28 and returned to the operator or deposited ina suitable receptacle as various check controlled 75 a detailed description of the coinV entrance and the means for causing the same to be closed at all times except when a proper check or coin is inserted therein. j

The cylindrical casing 17 which has the entrance 18 therein has slidably mounted therein the cylindrical member 30 which has the projection which is cylindrical and hollow and is indicated by the reference character 31 which projects into the member 32, said member 32 being of a peculiar structure to cooperate with the plant member 30, and which will be presently described.

The plate member 30 has a pluralityot plungers 33 which have the enlarged head member 34 on the inner face of the disk 30, and are` adapted to cooperate ywith the bell crank levers in the member 32 which will be presently described.

The member 32 has a plurality of radially disposed slots 35 therein and a plurality of longitudinally disposed slots 36 disposed around the circumference of the same; This member also has the circumferentially disposed slots 37 and 38, and in the circumferi ential slot 37 there is the circular wire member 40 which pierces the bell crank levers 41 and said bell crank levers are adapted to iave one end thereof pressed against the plungers 33 or rather against the heads 34 .'-V'

ed on this tubular portion is the disk member 45 which is adapted to lit intothe end of the shell member 17 and close the same, and to be secured therein bymeans of pins 46 or any other suitable means. This member 45 has the circular projections 48 and 479, which form a cavity 50 and around the portion 49 i andin the cavity 5() is mounted the coiled spring 51 which is of the compression variety. The member 32 has the circular .cavity 54 therein, into which the circular projection 49 and the coiled spring 51 are adapted to partially lit. y

In the circumferential groove 38there is mounted the tensionspring 56 which is adaptedl top ress ythebell crank levers into the bot- L tom of the slots 36 against the pressure of the plate member 30, but when a coin or check is inserted against the plate or the plungers 33 contained therein, the bell crank levers are raised to cause the ends to assume the position shown in Figure 4 against the pressurev of the tension spring 56 and thus causes the ends' 60 of the bell crank levers 41 to slide past the projection 48 on the member' 45 and allows the plate 30 to slide in- Wardly',and also allows the member 32 and associated parts to slide inwardly until the circular projection 49 engages the bottomof the cavity 548, and in which position the plate 30 has beenmoved back far enough to allow the check or coin to fall downwardly `thru slot 61 into the slot portion 62, and'which coin will be deflected one way or the other to enter either slots 27 or 28 as has been previously described.

By referring to Figure 1 it will be noted that the shell member 17 is cut-away to form the slot 65 and in this slot 65 is mounted the pin 66, and on this pin 66 is pivotally mounted the member 67 which has the inwardly projecting portion 68 and the downwardly projecting trigger 69. lThe member `67 has the weighted portion 70 which is adapted to normally force the projection 68 against the edge of the plate 30 and when the plate 30 is pushed backwardly as shown in Figure et the weight portion 70 will cause the projection 68 to slide in in front -of the plate 30 and lock'the same in position, and when the coin drops downwardly and touches the triggerportion 69 it will force the member 67 backwardly, so as to cause the portion 68 to be free from the plate 30, and the plate 30 will t snugly against the bottom of the shell portion 17 and close entrance portion 18 entirely. This of course is caused by the cornpression spring 51. This projection 68 has a sloping surface 72 as will appear in Figure 10., the purpose of this being that if a thin v coin or check is placed into the entrance that it will cause the trigger to slide inwardly and hold the plate 30 in that position, and if a thicker coin or check is dropped inwardly the projection 68 will move further in and also hold the plate 30 at the position to which it is pushed by the coin and this beveled holding portion 72y on the projection 68also facilitates the easy tripping of the mechanism when the coin hits the trigger 69 in its downward passage.

rIhe member 32 has the dowel pins 7 5 therein which are firmly inserted in the member 32 and are adapted to pierce holes 76 in the plate member 30 which insures that the pin or plungers 35 will register with the bell crank levers 41 at all times. Y Y

The member 32 on the front portion thereof has the circular slot 77 which is machined out and which leaves the thin sleeve portion 78 fitting next tor the portion 31 of the mem.-

It is evident that when a coin or check isI placed into-the entrance 18 that it must push all of the plungers 33 backwardly at the same time in order to raise the ends 60 of thejbell crank levers ,41, so as to allow all of them to slide past the circular projectionf18 beforeA the slot will be opened. Y

In the drawings and specification I have set forth a preferred embodiment of myy invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: Y

1.7In a fraud preventive device for check entrance, means for normally closing the check entrance, means for preventing the closing means from being opened except upon the insertion of aproper check in the entrance, means for hol-ding the closing means in open position, said means being releasable by a check after it has passed through the check entrance to permit the closing means to close the entrance.

2. In a fraud preventive device for check controlledapparatus provided with a check entrance, a sliding disk adapted to normally close the check entrance, a plurality of members mounted in said disk and adapted to be moved by the insertion of a checkin the check entrance to allow the disk to move to open position, means for holding the disk in opened position releasable by the check after it has passed through the entrance and means to move the disk to closed position.

3. In a check controlled apparatus vhaving an entrance for a check, means .for normally closing said entrance, means for locking the closing means in closed position, means operable by the pressure of a coin when inserted therein for releasing said closing means and allowing the closing means to be moved to open position, means for locking the closing means in opened position, and means operable by the check after it has passed through said entrance for releasing the closing means and allowing the sameto move to closed position.

4f. In a check controlled apparatus, a

check entrance, said entrance comprising a tubular casing having a circular opening 1n one end thereof, a disk adapted to normally close said opening, a second disk mounted within said casing and having a plurality of pivoted dog members therein, a plurality of plungersinsaid first disk adapted to engage the side of a check or coin when the same is placed in the entrance and to press against said dog members to cause them to assume a position to allow said` disks tof 'slide incontrolled apparatus, provided with a check list wardly in said casin'g'to open' a slot through which a check or coin is adapted to fall, means Jfor locking the disk in opened position, said means being adapted to be unlocked by the passing of the coin through the slot.

5. In fraud preventive means for coin or check controlled apparatus having a passageway for a check leading from the entrance into the check controlled apparatus, means for normally closing the entrance, means associated with said entrance and operable by the insertion of a check in said entrance to allow said closing means to be moved to open position and to allow-'the check to pass into the checkv controlled apparatus, means for locking the closing means in opened position and means operable `by said cheer as it passes into the check controlled apparatus to release theclosing means to allow the same to move to normal closed position.

v6. ln a check controlled apparatus having a slot into which a check is adaptedto be placed for delivery to the said ycheck controlled apparatus, closing means for said slot having a plurality of pins therein adapted to press against the side of a check, means controlled by said pins to unlock the closing means to allow the entrance to be opened by pressure upon the check, means for holding the closing vmeans in open position when the check is pushed to a predetermined distance to allow the check to VAfall downwardly into the check controlled apparatus, and means controlledby the check for releasing the closing means after the check has passed said slot.

7. In a check entrance mechanism for check controlled apparatus, a casing provided with a hole through which a check is adapted to be placed sidewise, a disk mounted in said casing and being adapted to normally close the hole in said casing, a circular member mounted in said casing and having a plurality o1C bell crank levers therein, a plurality of sliding pins mounted in said disk which is adapted to close the hole, one end of each ot said pins being adapted to cooperate with one end of the bell crank levers, the other end of each of the pins being adapted to engage the side of a check, a circular projection slidably mounted within the casing with relation to said oisk and against which the other end of the bell cranl-rlevers are adapted to engage in normal position, and over which the said ends of the bell crank levers are adapted to pass when a proper check is placed against said sliding member, resilient means mounted between the member holding the bell crank levers and the member slidably mounted with relation thereto, a pivoted locking member mounted in said casing and being adapted to spring in- Y wardly in 'front of' said disk when the Vsame is pushed inwardly and lock the same in position, a downwardly progecting portion associated with said pivoted member, said down"- wardly projecting portion being adapted to be engaged by the check as it passes downwardly after being inserted into the hole to cause the disk to be released and to again close the hole. n

8. In a check entrance for check controlled apparatus, a casing, a disk member slidablyA mounted in said casing, said casing having a hole through which a check is adapted to be placed sidewise, a hollow member mounted in said casing and intowhich a portion of said disk is adapted to project, a plurality of bell crank levers mounted in said hollow member, a second hollow member against which one end of the bell crank levers are adapted to project normally, a plurality ot slidable ieeler members mounted in said disk and having one end thereor1 in engagement with one end of the' bell crank levers, said sliding members being adapted to engage the Aside et a check when the check is placed in the said entrance to expand the bell crank levers to cause the Aiirst hollow member to slide wi th relation to the second hollow member to allow said disk to assume an open position to allow the said check to fall into the check controlled apparatus.

9. in a check entrance for check controlled apparatus provided with a check slot, a sliding disk adapted to normally close the check slot, a plurality ot plungers mounted in said vdisk and adapted to be impressed by the insertion'V ot a check in the check slot, means Jor 'maintaining said disk in closedA position, means for locking said disk in normal position, said locking means-being controlled by said plungers, means for holding said disk in open position when moved to openposition by the insertion of a check, and means operative by the passage of a check through the device to release said holding means to permit said disk to return to normal position.

lO. ln a fraud preventive device 'for check controlled devices having an entrance, means for normally closing the entrance, means for locking the closing means in closed position, means operable by pressure exertedY on a check for releasing said locking means and allowing the closing means to be moved to open position, means for locking the closing means in open position, and means operai le by the check for unlocking said means for locking the entrance in open position and allowing the closing means to close after a check has passed` thru said entrance.

11. In a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus having a check entrance, a'movable member adapted to normally close the check entrance, means operable by a check associated with said movable member and extending into the entrance for locking the movable member in closed position, means for holding Vsaid movable 'member in open position when a check is inserted into the entrance and means adapted to be operated by the check after it passes through the ent-rance for releasing the holding means to allow the movable member to close said entrance.

12. A fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus, said fraud preventive device having a check entrance, means for normally closing the entrance, means `operable by pressure on the side of an inserted check for moving said closing means and allowing the opening of said entrance, means for holding the closing means in open position and means operable by the check for releasing said holding means and allowing the closing means to move to normal closing position.

1.3. In a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus provided with an entrance, a movable member adapted to'normally close said entrance, a fixed member mounted contiguous to the movable member, a plurality of pivoted members mounted in said movable member and being adapted to normally engage said fixed member to hold the movable member in closed position, a plurality of slidable members in said movable member having one end thereof associa-ted with the pivoted members and having the other end thereof adapted to be engaged by the side of the check to depress the same to move said pivoted members out of engagement with the fixed member to allow the movable member to move to a position to open'tbe entrance.

14. In a slot closer for check controlled apparatus having a slot through which a check is adapted to be inserted sidewise, means for normally closing the slot, means for locking the closing means in closed position and means supported by the closing means and being operable by the side face portion of the check when inserted therein under pressure to operate the locking means and open the closing means.

15. In a slot closer for check controlled apparatus having a slot, means for normally closing saidl slot, means for locking said closing means in closed position, means operable by the face of the check for actuating said locking means to permit the closing means to be opened by lateral pressure eX- erted on the check, means for locking the closing means in open position and means operable by the check after passing through the slot for releasing the closing means to allow the same to assume a normal closed position.

' 16. In a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus having'a check entrance, means for normally closing said entrance, means for locking the closing means in position and means controlled by the peripheral side surface of the check for releasing said locking means to allow the closing means to assume 'an open position, means for holding the closing means in open position, and means adapted to be operated bythe check after it passes through the entrance to release` the means for holding the closingV means in open position. l

17. In a check controlled apparatus having a check entrance, means for completely' and normally closing said entrance, means.

operable by pressure exerted on an inserted checlrfor Vallowing saidclosing means to move to open position, means for holding'` the closing means inv open position while the check passes through the entrance and means operable by said check for releasing said closing means, and allowing the same to move to closed position.

18. In a check entrance yforcheclr controlled,

apparatus, means for normally closing said entrance, means for I lockingrsaid closing` meansin closed position, said locking means being operable by an inserted check for unlocking the closing means, means for holding the closing means in open posit-ion vand means controlled by the check for releasing the holding means, and meansfor forcing the closing means to cause said closing means to assume its normal closed position. n

19. In a check entrance for check controlled apparatus, means for normally 'closing said` check entrance, means for moving the closing means to a closed position, meansvfor locking said closing means in closed position, said locking means being operable by the side of an inserted check for unlocking the' closing means and allowing the same to assume an open position when pressure is applied for unlocking said closing means and allowi ing the same to close after a check has passed through said entrance.

2l. In a fraud preventive device for check controlled apparatus having a check entrance, means for normally closing the said entrance,

ioo

means for locking the closing means in posi- L. tion and means controlled by the side surface of the check for releasing said locking means to allouT the closing means to assume an open position und-er pressure exerted on the check and means for locking the closing means in open position, means operable by the check for releasing said means for Vlocking said closing (means in-open Iposition to allow the same to move to closed position.

22. In a check testing apparatus having a check entrance, means for closing the entrance, a plurality of levers having their pivot nearone end, each lever having one leg longer .than the other, means cooperating with the long leg of said lever for locking the entrance I in closed position, means engageable by the side of an inserted check for moving said levers to move them away from the locking means to allow the closing means to be moved by pressure on the inserted check to open position.

trolled apparatus having a check entrance 23. In a check testing device for check conand means for normally closing said entrance, means for locking said closing means in closed position, depressible members penetrating said closing means and being movable by pressure on an inserted check, to move the locking means to unlocking position.

24. In a check testing device for check c'on- `trolled apparatushaving a check entrance and means for normally closing saidA entrance,

means for locking said closing means in closed position, depressible members penetrating said closing means and being movable by pressure on an inserted check, and means operable by said depressible members vfor moving said'locliing means to unlocking position. In testimony whereof I alix my signature. AARON A. KNEE. 

